Kids Party Chaos

[aaadisco 0]

I had an interesting kids party this Sat!

 

It was a joint 2nd and 40th birthday, mum and son's birthday celebrations and I was asked to do some party games.

 

There was a mix of toddlers, 5-6 year olds and adults.

 

I asked a couple of the dads to be judges for me and the first game we did was limbo (with a soft foam pole!). Within mins there were about 7 to 9 kids piling under the pole and in the end we had to give up on that game.

 

We then did musical statues and it was fun as kids kept coming back in!

 

Anyway after a few games there were about 4 kids crying their eyes out as they had not won a prize!

 

Wy wife was telling me that these days kids arn't taught about competition and everyone is a winner. Like on sports day everybody getting a prise.

 

The dad's I chose to be judges did not like having to tell the children they were out.

 

In the end, I would say the night went ok and the woman that booked me seemed pleased but it gave me some food for thought and I came away thinking that trying to get toddlers to play games and even listen to what you are saying is hard work!

 

Kids parties I have done before have been 12/13 and really just wanted pop tunes to dance to so this was an eye opener for me.

 

Would be interested to hear anyone else's stories about trying to do games with small kids :-)

[vokf 0]

I've not done any small kids parties... However, I'm doing my sons 9th birthday in a few weeks.

 

Being a hard and horrible dad ;-) , I'm happy to see my kids lose at games, its good if they win, but as most of their friends will also be "out", its not that bad.

 

One of my early gigs was for a 10th (or 11th?) birthday, and I basically got the "losers" to take turns stopping the music.

I could see some were gutted at being out -but playing "DJ" for 30 seconds put a smile on their faces.

The winner got to pick the next song, and play it.

 

If the kids are really spolit... team games work well, the Toilet Roll game is good fun (which is what its all about!) Make 50% "losers" - not seen to be a bad thing if you quickly follow up with a song they will dance too (less time to accuse any team members of letting them down!)

 

Jason

 

[Gary (GDK) 0]

It's very hard to control young kids at the age of 2 and 3...

I sometimes refuse work for 4yr olds if most of the kids will be 3yr old!

 

The way I get round (or try to) is that everyone will win a prize by the end of the party guaranteed. In my times I have seen the birthday kids try to batter other kids because theyhavent won pass the parcel. Thank god the kid was removed from the room as he would of prob gone for me next!

[supersound dj 0]

LOL DJs scarred of toddlers...I love it.

 

Been doing these for years now and kids love routine and are v following in nature.

 

You havee gott to keep them interested and be v rehimental sometimes but fun and appoachable too.

 

Paul

[Kingy 0]

I leave this sort of gig to those who specialise in children's entertainment.

[stardust 0]

We do at least 1 kids disco a week - I am lucky as my Wife dresses up and entertains the kids for a lot of the time whilst moody me sits behind and plays the music!!

 

One thing i always tell my clients when booking - We are first and foremost a Disco and we will provide entertaiment mainly associated with the music and Not the other way around i.e. we are not Entertainers who come along with a Disco Rig for effect!

 

 

What i can't believe is the amount of booking we are getting for 2 & 3 year old's!!

Crikey! when i was 3 i had a few friends come to my house, played pass the parcel and ate fairy cakes!

 

[NRG Roadshow 0]

I leave this sort of gig to those who specialise in children's entertainment.

 

After having the same kind of problems that you had "aaadisco" in the past, Im inclined to agree with Kingy, and I think Im going to leave it to the specialists.

But that said I keep on getting recomendations from toddlers partys, so I must be doing a good job!

Im jacking my prices up for them though, so hopfully this will put a few people off as Im not keen on them.

 

Im not charging extra for them, I just used to do them cheaper as a reduced price disco on a sunday afternoon was better than nothing so I charged less.

But I think IF I continue to do them, I will charge my normal rate......take it or leave it!

 

One thing i always tell my clients when booking - We are first and foremost a Disco and we will provide entertaiment mainly associated with the music and Not the other way around i.e. we are not Entertainers who come along with a Disco Rig for effect!

 

Excellent way of putting it!

I do try and explain to people the same thing, but putting it like that is even better.

Edited October 21, 2008 by NRG Roadshow

[aaadisco 0]

Thank you for all your comments, I also really like what Stardusta2008 said.

 

I think it is better to set the expectation before hand and say that although we can do a few games, we are not professional children's entertainers!

[NRG Roadshow 0]

Lets get this straight.....

 

I like kids, Im a family man at heart.....but......

 

Anything more than about 5 young kids in a room at the same time and I find it very difficult to cope with, they just stress me out!

 

I think its all down to a young childs attention span, get them doing somthing they like and 2 minutes later they are bored and playing up again!

 

I think it takes a special breed of DJ to be able to cope with them and keep them entertained for long periods of time...........Im really not that person and I do point that out to potential clients.